Skills for the Future - opening new doors

The Skills for the Future training programme is an exciting and inspiring project that is funded through The Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Skills for the Future programme has been set up across the Country to provide individuals with the practical heritage skills to be able to confidently seek employment in the sector. The wider benefits to conservation include increased capacity and the long term strengthening of the conservation work force. Dorset Wildlife Trust currently has funding for 4 trainees per year over a 3 year programme.

The team of 2011

Our project started in February 2011 with the first team of 4 trainees taking up the opportunity to gain a raft of qualifications and experiences over the course of the year.

Megan, Jess, Beccy and John all duly completed their year at the end of January 2012 - ready to tackle the hurdle of gaining employment in the conservation sector. Less than a week after completion, two of the team were already in employment and working on an invasive plant project in Dorset.

A new year and a new team

Another four trainees were selected for this year after a day of interviews and tasks in December. Starting in February they will add an impressive array of qualifications and experience to their CVs. These include (amongst many others): 

• Chainsaw & clearance saw
• First Aid, H&S and manual handling
• Safe use of Pestcides
• Care & handling of livestock

The trainees also work alongside Dorset Wildlife Trust Staff and volunteers, gaining experience and training consolidation as they tackle each new challenge.

Training opportunities for volunteers

The Skills for the Future training programme has an additional benefit for volunteers wishing to gains skills in conservation matters. Particularly with regards to training delivered internally by our staff experts - there will be opportunities to increase capacity by offering additional places for volunteers to join the trainees for a day. Examples of such sessions are survey techniques, butterfly transects, hedgelaying, fencing and many others.  Check our online events guide for details of these sessions as and when they are planned.

More information

For further information on the programme, please contact the Skills for the Future Manager on 01202 642788 or email

Watch a video of Jess and Megan on their last day as Trainees.

The 2011 Trainees:  Megan, Jess, Beccy, John.

Steve explains the use of longworth traps to John.

The 2012 Trainees: Jake, James, Nikkii and Victoria